Blast Off! Radio today at 4:00 pm EDT: "Musical Chairs" in Florida politics

It's been an interesting week in Florida from a political standpoint. First, Gov. Charlie Crist announced that he will run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by fellow Republican Sen. Mel Martinez, setting up a tough primary fight with former state House Speaker Marco Rubio, the darling of the extreme Right.

Then, predictably, everyone began to move around the deck chairs on the Titanic. State CFO Alex Sink declared her candidacy for governor, instantly becoming the Democratic front-runner (and earning Blast Off!'s endorsement almost immedicately following her announcement), while on the GOP side, state Attorney General Bill McCollum has announced his own gubernatorial candidacy today; state Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Bronson may join him there. And in the most unintentionally hilarious such situation, Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp, whose tenure in Tallahassee has been plagued with charges of corruption, mused last week about running for ... get this ... Attorney General! (It'd be funny if it weren't so sad ...)

So, naturally, today's Blast Off! Radio will cast its eye on how 2010 is shaping up in Florida politics -- after all, I know we sometimes neglect the fact that the show is part of the Florida Progressive Radio Network! But there is plenty of other news to cover, too, including President Obama's speeches at Arizona State University and the University of Notre Dame (lots of hypocrisy to go around in both venues ... and not by the president), an important court ruling in Florida for same-sex couples wishing to adopt children, and a discussion (maybe even ... a rant?!) about whether certain people (*cough* Republicans *cough*) who benefit personally from federal stimulus money might change their tune about Obama now (short answer: are you kidding?).

All this and more, of course, including your phone calls, emails, and chatting in the always-entertaining chat room. But how can you be a part of this frolicsome festival? As usual, it's oh-so-easy to do:

TIME: 4:00 pm Eastern TODAY

Click here to listen

Call in number: (646) 716-7543

E-mail: blastoffradio-at-gmail-dot-com

(I got the link to the show right today ... for once!)

So whatever you're doing this afternoon at 4:00 Eastern (3:00 Central, etc.), just click on over to yet another exciting edition of Blast Off! Radio -- you'll be glad you did!

UPDATE (3:51 pm 5/18/09): Well, that's never happened before.

A technological glitch with my cell service (yes, my bill is paid up!) caused my call, and thus the show, to end prematurely and abruptly with about 15 minutes to go. I'm trying to figure it out now.

Apologies to all listeners; we'll be back in business next week at the usual time for a special Memorial Day edition of Blast Off! Radio.